The Chemistry Of Metals And Reactivity Series

Question 1

What are the reactions of metal with water?

Answer 1

Lithium - effervescence, floats, moves around, turns UI purple, eventually disappears
Sodium - effervescence, floats, moves around quickly, turns UI purple, eventually disappears, sparks, melts and forms sphere
Potassium - effervescence, floats, moves around, turns UI purple, eventually disappears, melts and forms sphere, ignite with lilac flame

Question 2

What are the reactions of metal with acids to form salts and hydrogen?

Answer 2

Magnesium / zinc / sodium / calcium + hydrochloric acid = magnesium / zinc / sodium / calcium chloride
Magnesium / zinc / sodium / calcium + sulfuric acid = Magnesium / zinc / sodium / calcium sulfate
Magnesium / zinc / sodium / calcium + nitric acid = Magnesium / zinc / sodium / calcium nitrate

Question 3

What are the reactions of metal with displacement reactions, including the thermite reaction?

Answer 3

Less reactive metal compound + more reactive metal ——> less reactive metal + more reactive metal compound
Thermite reaction: aluminium + iron oxide ——> aluminium oxide + iron

Question 4

What is the reactivity series?

Answer 4

Potassium
Sodium
Lithium
Calcium
Magnesium
Aluminium
Zinc
Iron
Lead
Hydrogen
Copper
Silver
Gold

Question 5

How do you prevent rusting and how does it happen?

Answer 5

Rusting is the oxidation reaction of iron in the presence of oxygen and water
You can prevent this by galvanising, barrier method, sacrificial protection